“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” Philippians 2: 1-2

TO BE “IN CHRIST”

November 13, 2017

What does it mean to be “in Christ?” This can be a confusing expression, especially for those who haven’t been around the church. It means that we have come to trust “in Christ” to save us from our sin. It means to be cleansed from our sin by Christ’s death on the cross. To be “in Christ” is to believe that Christ really is the Son of God who has come to pay the penalty of our sin and that He has risen from the dead. It means deciding to entrust our lives completely to Christ.

When Paul wrote this letter to the Church of Philippi, he was acknowledging the vast diversity of the city. Just like today, Paul knew there were all kinds of people in Philippi, many of whom were not saved. There were many people living in and around the church, but were not a part of it. They were not “in Christ,” because they were not spiritually reborn. In other words, there were many people who had not yet made the decision to follow Christ. As Christians, we are to be united “in Christ” so that others may see Christ in us.

If this is you today, if you have simply a head knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ – just an intellectual understanding of the Jesus written of in the Bible, may today be the day that you get to know Him personally. May today be the day that you make a personal decision to trust your life to Christ and receive the gift of His Spirit dwelling within you so that you too can truly be “in Christ.”